Statistics

Horse Armour

Description

Though not illustrated in any of the early photographs, this bard is described as that shown with the figure of ‘Edward Clinton, Earl of Lincoln’. It is composite. The shaffron for the horse’s head is one of a large group from the Tower Armoury under Henry VIII. It is made in one piece, decorated with three chevron ridges and roped and sunken border, and fitted with large fluted roundel.

The crupper and flanchards are distinctive in being made of small, square steel plates riveted together. The crupper is formed of seven inch square plates riveted together. The trailing edge of each row of plates has recessed borders forming vertical bands, and the piece as a whole has a plain edge with an inward turn and a recessed border shaped into wide scallops. The two halves of the crupper join down the centre of the back, the join concealed by a tail guard shaped to simulate vertebrae, the rear end left open. The flanchards are of the same construction.

The peytral, with its distinctive scalloped lower edge, can be seen in some of the overall views of the Horse Armoury. It is formed of three main plates each with a narrow plate riveted to the top, pierced with brass eyeleted holes for the attachment of a padded lining. The main plates have double recessed bands and triple recessed borders, while the lower edges are formed in wide scallops. The central plate flares sharply outwards at the bottom.